Accumulator



Dec. 1941- s. R. TEAGER I ACCUMULATOR Filed July 13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ummmmnmnmumuwmmmmummmnmnummm INVENTOR STEPHEN R. TEAGER BY e ATTORNEY$ Dec. 30, 1941. s. R. TEAGER ACCUMULATOR Filed July 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum K INVENTOR sr PHENR.TEAGER MW ATTORNEYS y Patented Dec. 30, 1941 ACCUMULATOR Stephen R. Teager, Ravenna, Ohio, assignor to The Byers Machine Company, Ravenna, Ohio,

a corporation Application July 13, 1939, Serial him-284,279 (oi. 15-78) I present invention to provide a trash accumulator 8 Claims.

This invention relates to sweeping or gathering equipment, and more particularly to a device for accumulating light and bulky trash or debris such as leaves, paper, and the like.

In sweeping streets and other similar places to sweeping of streets in the fall of the year, the

sweeping problem is more complicatedbecause of the accumulation in the streets and elsewhere of fallen leaves and similar light but bulky articles, such as newspapers. this character, because of its bulk, will quickly fill the hopper of the conventional type of street sweeper. Since the advent of the small type of sweeper, preferred becausepf its economy and maneuverability, the problem has become more serious since, of course, the dirt and trash capacity of a small sweeper is much less than that of the old fashioned type of large sweeper.

In accordance with the present invention it is contemplated that in sweeping streets and the like having an accumulation of relatively large bulky articles, such as leaves, newspapers, and other similar trash, a device will be attached to the sweeper to collect such bulky trash and push it ahead in advance of the sweeper. Thus the surface of the street along the gutter is left substantially free from the bulky type'of trash and leaves, and if the vehicle to which the device is attached is a. sweeper, the street may be efiiciently and effectively swept clean of the heavier and more tenacious type of dirt. From time to time the vehicle may be backed up so that the bulky debris carried along by the accumulator device may be deposited in a pile at the curb or in the gutter, to be later collected. While the accumulator of the present invention may be used in connection with any automotive vehicle for the purpose of gathering or collecting bulky debris and depositing the same in piles along the curb of the street, or, if desired, may be mounted on wheels and pushed by hand, it is preferable and most advantageous to use the accumulator in connection with a street sweeper so that simultaneously with the gathering and piling of the bulky trash and debris by the accumulator, the street surface is swept clean of the heavier dirt and trash by the sweeper vehicle, which vehicle collects the heavier dirt and carries it along to be deposited in a pile along with the bulky trash or elsewhere. It is, therefore, an object of the Debris and trash of for attachment to an automotive vehicle which is adapted to be carried alon in advance of such vehicle to collect relatively large and bulky trash and debris.

Another object is to provide a trash accumulator which may be attached to an automotive vehicle and supported in advance of the vehicle above the surface over which the vehicle is to travel. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide an accumulator which extends forwardly from the front end of an automotive vehicle and is supported in cantilever fashion wholly by its attachment to the vehicle structure.

Another object is to provide an accumulator having enclosing walls from thebottom edges of which extend flexible or resilient elements to prevent injury to the device, in the event an unyielding object is encountered, while serving to engage and carry along lighter trash and debris.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination, an automotive sweeper and a trash accumulator to be secured to the sweeper and carried in advance thereof, the accumulator being arranged to permit the passage thereunder of a pile of debris deposited from the hopper of the sweeper.

A still further object is to provide an accumulator for bulky debris and the like which is simple in design and construction, may be quickly and easily cleaned and serviced, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of a suitable embodiment of the invention made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automotive sweeper having my accumulator attached to the front end thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the combination shown in Fig. 1 and taken from the street side thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the combination shown in Fig. 1 taken from the curb side thereof;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly diagrammatic, showing the cross wall of the accumulator and the manner in which the pivoted lower portion or panel of the same rides over a pile of debris when the vehicle is backed, and also the manner in which the upper portion of the cross wall may be displaced to permit access to the hopper of the sweeper. This view is taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. is a fragmentary detail in section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings by letters and numerals of reference which indicate like parts throughout the several views, the combination of the present invention includes an automotive vehicle A and an accumulator B which is secured to and supported by the vehicle A so as to travel in advance thereof over surface C traveled by the vehicle. While any type of automotive vehicle suitable for such purpose may be used, it is contemplated and preferred that a street sweeper of the character shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 233,985, filed October 8, 1938, be employed.

The sweeper vehicle A comprises a supporting structure including a frame I and a hood or casing 2 mounted on the frame. A pair of pneumatic tired wheels 3 and 4 support the front end of the sweeper-and drive the same, the rear end being supported and steered by a third wheel or wheels, not shown. Drive shaft 5 extends from transmission 6, to the wheel 4 to actuate the latter, the power being supplied from a, suitable engine, not shown. Gutter broom 1 is mounted for rotation about an upright axis and is carried on the end of a shaft rotatable in housing 8, the shaft being driven through the transmission 6. In a similar manner, a rotatable horizontal brush, not shown, is driven through the transmission 6 so as to sweep the surface over which the vehicle travels. Dirt and debris swept from the surface C by the horizontal rotary brush and the gutter broom 1 is cast forwardly and upwardly so as to be deposited in a hopper 9. A cylindrical door ||l disposed across the bottom of the hopper and pivoted at H may be swung upwardly to release the trash and debris from the hopper and to deposit the same in a pile on the surface C between the wheels 3 and 4. Doors I4 and I5 pivoted at |6 to the front end of the casing 2 normally cover ports or apertures through which, when the doors are displaced, access may be had to the hopper 9 for cleaning the same or repairing and adjusting the mechanism inside the casing.

The accumulator B comprises a frame-having elongated side members I! and I8 which have upturned rear ends'pivotally mounted or connected at |9 to brackets 20 secured to the frame I of the vehicle supporting structure. The brackets'20 are disposed at opposite sides of the sweeper in front of the wheels 3 and 4 and the members I1 and I8 normally extend forwardly therefrom, in a. substantially horizontal direction. The major portion of the frame member I! is normally disposeda short distance above, and parallel to, surface C over which the vehicle travels, such, for example, as about 6 to inches, preferably about 8 inches. Front or leading portion 2| of the frame member H! is bent or formed upwardly and to one side so as to be disposed at an angle to rear portion 22 thereof, which latter portion substantially parallel the surface C at a height thereabove about equal to the corresponding height of the member IT. The member I8 is longer than the member l1, so that forward end 23 thereof extends laterally'and also beyond forward end 24 of the member I] so as to normally overlie a street curb when the vehicle is driven along the gutter.

Uprightframe members 26, disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another, are secured at 21 to the side frame members I! and I8 so as to be normally disposed just ahead of the front end of the vehicle A- Gusset plates 28 may be secured in the angle between the frame members to further increase the strength of the joint. Tubular sleeves 29 are secured to the upper ends of the frame members 26 and receive the threaded ends of tie or connecting members 30 which are pivoted at 3| to strap members'32 secured to the casing 2 of the vehicle supporting structure above the brackets 20. Washers 33 disposed against opposite ends of the sleeves 29 and nuts 34 threaded on the tie members 30, may be adjusted so as to support the accumulator B in suitable position as to height above the surface C. By this arrangement the accumulator is wholly supported by the vehicle A and extends forwardly therefrom in cantilever fashion so as to move over the surface to be transversed by the sweeper and gather the lighter and more bulky debris prior to the passage of the sweeper over such surface.

An inverted U-shaped cross frame member 36 has downwardly extending ends 31 and 38, the extremities of which are secured to the front ends of the side members I! and I8. As shown in Fig. 2, the end 3'! of the cross member 36 is secured to the end 24 of the side member I I, while, as shown in Fig. 3, the end 38 of the cross member is secured to an intermediate portion of the upturned end 2| of the side member |8.

The frame of the accumulator may be made from any suitable material which will give sufficient rigidity and strength to the structure. It is, however, contemplated to make the frame members from tubular iron or steel pipe which may be secured together by welding. I

An upright cross wall or panel, indicated generallyby the numeral 49, extends between the frame members 26 in front of the vehicle A and defines the rear end of the enclosure of the accumulator. The wall panel 40 is preferably of considerable height so as to adequately confine such leaves or other bulky debris as may be trapped in the enclosure.

An upper portion of the .cross wall panel 43 is removed or cut away across the major part of the width thereof, the opening thus formed being normally closed by a displaceable or withdrawable panel 4| having hinges 42 along its lower edge secured to the panel 40. As shown in Fig. 6, the marginal edges of the panel 4| overlapthe wall 40 around the opening in the latter and fasteners 43 pivotally secured to the panel 40 by means such as rivets 44, may be moved into overlapping position with respect to upper marginal portions of the panel 4| to retain the same in closed position across the opening or aperture in the wall 40. When the fasteners 43 are moved to release the panel 4|, the latter may be lowered or pivoted on the hinges 42 to permit ready access to the doors l4 and I5 in the front end of the casing 2 of the vehicle A. This feature is of considerable value since it is frequently necessary to reach the interior of the hopper 9, such, for example, as for the purpose of cleaning the same. The accumulator B, positioned in front of the casing 2, would normally block access to the hopper through the doors l4 and I5.

The arrangement of the present invention, which permits the upper panel portion 4| of the wall 40 to be lowered or displaced out of the way, enables the operator to get at the sweeper hopper without being impeded by the accumulator.

The lowerportion of the cross wall 40 comprises a panel 45 secured along the lower edge of the main part of the wall 40 by means of hinges 46, so that the panel may be moved upwardly and forwardlyin an arcuate path from its normal substantially vertical position.

Side walls having solid or imperforate panels 46 and 41 extend forwardly from the opposite ends of the cross wall 40. The side panels may be integral with the cross panel 46, as shown in Fig. 6. I propose to construct the panels of the enclosing walls and the pivotally mounted panels, of sheet m etal such as galvanized iron. However, any suitable material that is of sufflcient strength and toughness may be employed. When sheet metal is used. the cross and side wall panels may be secured to the upright frame members 26 by means of saddle straps 48 which embrace the frame members and have leg portions 49 secured to the walls by means of rivets,

welding, or both. The bottom edges of the side portion of the wall panel 46 has the lower edge thereof inclined upwardly and laterally to correspond to the upwardly and laterally directed portion 2| of the member 18. Upper edges 5| of the side walls may be inclined or sloped downwardly from the top of the cross wall adja-- cent the holding sleeves 29 to the forward ends of the walls, so that the walls of the accumulator enclosure or receptacle are higher toward the rear thereof.

Front or leading edge 52 of the side wall panel 41 is curved around the upright end portion 31 of the cross frame member 36. This construction assists in supporting the side wall and also minimizes the accumulation of dirt and debris between the side wall and the cross member.

The side wall panel 46 extends forwardly beyond the upright end portion '38 of the cross frame member and terminates adjacent the leading end 23 of the frame member 18, preferably being curled or rolled therearound, as indicated at 53, Fig. 1, which construction prevents the accumulation of dirt and debris between the side panel and the frame member.

It is preferable, although. not essential, that the side walls diverge slightly from one another as they extend forwardly from the cross wall so that the open end of the enclosure defined by the walls of the accumulator is wider than the rear end thereof defined by the cross wall panel 40. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the side wall panel 46 crosses or extends over the path of the gutter broom 1 so that the leading end 53' of the side wall normally overlies the curb of a street as the sweeper is driven along the gutter. For this reason it is desirable that the front or most advanced portion of the side wall be curved upwardly, as previously stated, so as to prevent engagement thereof with the curb or other raised such as leaves and papers and to retain the same within the enclosure or receptacle defined by the walls of the accumulator. The exact form of the bristles 55 and the manner in which they are mounted may be varied in accordance with the particular requirements of the accumulator, such, for example, as to size and capacity. A satisfactory arrangement, as shown, is one wherein the bristles or resilient elements are made of relatively stiff steel wire which is bent double to provide two legs which are passed downwardly through suitable apertures 56 in the frame members l1 and I8. Bights 51 of the bent resilient elements 55 are disposed along the obstructions. Furthermore, by providing an acface C to gather loose bulky debris and trash upper surface of the frame members between the holes 56 which receive the legs of the bristles. If desired, angle members 58 may be secured to the side panels of the walls by suitable means such as rivets 59. These members are disposed above and in parallel relation to the side frame members l1 and I6 and arranged so that one flange of each such angle member bears against or is disposed above the bights 51 to retain the resilient elements in place.

The bristles or resilient elements 55 along ,the bottom of the cross wall panel 40 are carried by the member 60 which may be square in section and is secured to the lower edge of the pivoted panel 45. The member 60 is provided with spaced vertical apertures through which extend the legs of the resilient elements. 55, being in U-shape, as previously described. An angle member 6| is secured to the hinged panel 45 above and in parallel relation to the square mem- P ber 60 and engages the bights of the bristles to retain the same in the apertures through the member 60. I

As shown in the drawings, the walls of the accumulator enclosure comprise rigid or nonyielding portions consisting of the cross and side panels 40, 46, and 41, and relatively yieldable resilient portions consisting of bristles 55. It is to be noted that the yieldable bristle elements are but a minor portion of the total height of the walls. For example, the resilient elements or bristles extending downwardly from the bottom of the hinged apron 45 are of a length which about equals the height of the hinged apron, but their height is only of the order of one-fourth the total height of the cross wall. At the rear end of the enclosure of the accumulator the side wall panels 46 and 41 are each several times the height of the individual resilient elements or bristles 55. Because of the downwardly sloping top edges 5| of the side walls, the height of the panels 46 and 41 decreases toward the front of the accumulator so that the -proportionate height of the resilient elements 55 increases accordingly. The exact proporton of the bristles with respect to the walls from which they extend is not critical but the relative dimensions mentioned and shown have been found satisfactory. The bristles or resilient elements 55 which extend downwardly from the bottom edge of the side slope of the frame end 2| and to maintain all the bristle elements in contact with the surface 0.

In traveling along a street gutter adjacent the curb, for example, a sweeper-accumulator combination of the character described encounters numerous obstacles such as rocks, bricks, lumber and breaks or other defects in the paving and curbing. If the cross and side walls of the accumulator were of. solid, non-yielding construction, such obstacles would be apt to strain or damage the device or even stop the movement of the vehicle. The yielding character of the resilient elements 55, however, overcomes such difllculty and permits the accumulator to pass over obstacles without danger or inconvenience. It is to be noted that the fringe or border of resilient elements around the bottom of the device is more in the nature of a comb than a brush. That is to say, instead of having a multiplicity of rows of the bristles 55, which, of course might be used, the present invention contemplates, essentially, a relatively thin row of bristles. This construction facilitates clearing while adequately serving to gather and confine bulky trash of the character sought to be accumulated in the enclosure.

In passing over an obstacle, it is desirable that the point of attachment of the resilient elements to the members I! and I8 and the member 60 be well above the obstacle so that excessive bending of the elementsis avoided. Accordingly, the distance from the bottom edges of the wall panels along which the elements 55 are secured, to the ends of the elements, is considerably greater than the usual height of obstacles encountered 7 in city streets. Hence, also, the bristle elements depending from the end 53 of the panel 46 are several times longer than the height of ordinary street curbing.

The accumulator is adjusted by means of the nuts 34 on the tie members 30 so that the bottom or tip ends of the resilient flexible elements 55 barely contact the surface C so as to collect all the loose and bulky litter or trash on the surface over which the vehicle is progressed. The forwardly extending portion of the side wall panel 46, which projects laterally over the curb against which the sweeper is operated, is effective to gather into the enclosure of the accumulator trash such as leaves and the like which are adjacent the gutter but not in the same, so that the efiiciency of the described combination in cleaning a street is increased.

As the sweeper A, with the accumulator B attached thereto, is driven along the curb of a street, the light and bulky trash is picked up and carried along in the enclosure defined by the wall panels #0, 46, and 41, with their depending resilient elements. Simultaneously, the brushes oi the sweeper A scrub the road surface and cast the heavier and more tenacious part of the dirt into the hopper 9. From time to time when the litter such as leaves and the like carried along by the accumulator B becomes of sufficient bulk, the operatorreverses his vehicle so that the accumulator is withdrawn from around the pile of litter contained therein, leaving the same in a neat heap adjacent the curbor elsewhere as desired. The cross member 36 is of sufficient height to clear the top of such pile with out objectionably breaking the pile down, The operator then continues his progress along the street by circling the deposited pile and again driving the sweeper adjacent the curb. In the .event that the hopper 9 becomes loaded with Ill debris, the operator may dump the same by raising the cylindrically shaped door III to deposit the debris between the wheels 3 and 4. When the vehicle is then backed the bottom pivoted panel 45 then rides over the debris, indicated at D, as shown by the broken lines of Fig. 4, so as to prevent the resilient members 55 from strewing the debris D over the street surface. During forward movement of the accumulator the pivoted panel 45 is held upright, against rearward pivotal movement, by a depending portion 55 of the cross wall 40.

When the accumulator is not to be used the same may be elevated so as to raise the resilient elements 55 out of engagement with the surface C by loosening the innermost of the locking nuts 3! and tightening the outer locking nuts. If desired, the accumulator may be pivoted upwardly a considerable distance but of operative position by disengaging the tie members 30 from the sleeve 29 and pivoting the panel 4| downwardly so as to displace the same from the top opening the cross wall panel Ill, such opening being of sumcient width'to span the casing 2 of the sweeper A. The accumulator may then be tied or otherwise secured in such elevated position.

Other modes of utilizing the principles of the present invention may be resorted to, change being made in the particular details of design and construction shown, as desired. Numerous modifications and alterations are contemplated and included within the scope of the invention, it being understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is given for purposes of explanation and illustration.

What I claim is:

1. In an accumulator of the character described for attachment to an automotive vehicle, an upright side wall panel supported to extend forwardly in advance of the vehicle, said wall panel having upper and lower edges which converge toward the leading end of the wall, a first group of elongated resilient elements extending downwardly from the bottom edge of the panel toward the rear end thereof, a second group of resilient elements generally longer than said first group extending downwardly from the bottom edge of the panel toward the leading end thereof, and means for securing said wall panel to a vehicle so that the wall is supported substantially in cantilever fashion from its rear end.

2. In an accumulator of the character described for attachment to an automotive vehicle and including an upright side wall panel, an edge along the bottom of the panel having a rear portion and a forward portion set at an angle to the rear portion, means for attaching the accumulator to the vehicle so that the rear portion of said bottom edge of the side wall panel substantially parallels the surface over which the vehicle travels and the forward portion of said edge is inclined upwardly from the rear portion, and a multiplicity of elongated resilient elements extending downwardly from said bottom edge of said wall panel towards said surface.

3. An accumulator for attachment to a road vehicle comprising spaced framemembers each having attaching means at one end thereof to connect the same to a vehicle, a connector extending between the opposite endsof the frame members, up ights connected to the frame members intermediate the connector and the attaching means, wall panels disposed in upright posiand others secured along their bottom edges to the frame members, and resilient flexible members extending downwardly from the bottom edges of the panels.

4. In an accumulator, a supporting frame comprising tubular members, panels secured to and supported by said members, transverse openings through the members, elongated flexible elements disposed in the openings and extending laterally from the frame members, and means engaging the ends of said elements to resist endwise movement thereof.

5. In an accumulator, elongated members connected together to form a supporting frame, panels secured to said members, a series of openings extending transversely through the members, elongated resilient elements bent into U shape and disposed in the openings, and means secured to the panels and engaging the bends of said elements to hold the same against endwise movement in the openings.

6. An accumulator of the character described for attachment to an automotive vehicle comprising an upright cross wall panel, a pair of upright side wall panels extending forwardly from the opposite ends of the cross wall panel and rigidly supported thereby in cantilever fashion and in divergent relation with respect to one another. a multiplicity of elongated resilient elements extending downwardly from the bottom edges of some of said panels, and connecting members for securing the accumulator to a vehicle, said connecting members being the sole support for the accumulator and being so constructed as to hold the same as a cantilever over the road traversed by the vehicle.

7. An accumulator for attachment to a road vehicle comprising frame members rigidly connected together to form a rigid structure having a cross portion and side portions extending angularly from the cross portion, means for attaching the structure to a vehicle so that the structure extends forwardly therefrom with the opening between the side portions facing in the direction of normal vehicle travel, resilient flexible elements secured to the frame structure and extending downwardly therefrom and constituting a brush to sweep over the surface traversed by the vehicle, and panel means of generally greater height than the length of the flexible elements secured to the frame members above the flexible elements to cooperatively provide therewith an open front receptacle wherein the panel means is continuous along both of the side portions and the cross portion of the frame structure.

8. For attachment to a street sweeper of the type having a rotary brush and a dirt hopper, an accumulator comprising spaced upright side panels and means for supporting the same on a sweeper to extend forwardly therefrom over the surface of the street to be traversed, a cross panel and means supporting the same in upright position between the rearward ends of the side panels, 

